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We are transforming the West County Museum into Suffrage Headquarters reminiscent of the late 1890’s with a blast of purple, yellow and white. These were the official colors of the suffrage movement and these colors were seen during parades, marches, conventions and meetings from 1848 – 1920. There will be a timeline of key events and examples of the suffrage movement’s marketing tactics, along with information on the founding women of the movement to help us tell the story.

A display of trunks and luggage with period clothing gives visitors a visual idea of the traveling speakers who stopped in Sebastopol and held informational meetings. We will remember our local women Maude Churchman Wheeler, Althea Faught, and Helen Hurlbut who spoke in support of the Votes for Women cause.

Sebastopol City Councilman Michael Carnacchi provided a collection of authentic artifacts for our display. These items give us an insight into the complex subject of women’s suffrage and include a signed letter from Frances Willard, president of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union, an Autograph Album dated 1871-1873, and a souvenir from Swarthmore College founded by Lucretia Mott.

The suffrage cause needed printed matter to promote and distribute its information. We have an invoice and check which paid for printing paper and ink used by the National Women’s Suffrage Association and signed by its founder, Susan B. Anthony. We also have some Woman’s Journal editions whose editor and founder Lucy Stone famously spread the quotation “taxation without representation is tyranny.”

We are displaying the 18-foot long Suffrage banner. This banner is a replica of the one sewn by Alice Paul on which stars were placed to represent each state that ratified the 19th Amendment.

We also feature a replica of a 1913 costume which the suffragettes wore in the Washington DC parade. This parade was the mastermind of Alice Paul and Lucy Burns, the first of its kind to be held in front of the US Capitol. The parade was politically motivated by Alice Paul’s statement, “we march in a spirit of protest against the present political organization of society, from which women are excluded.” Columbia, the female national personification of the United States, wears the costume in the 1913 parade. The costume on display, at our Museum, was made by Ellen Bowen, using natural fiber materials to keep it most like its original. Ellen will be wearing the costume in the 2020 Apple Blossom Parade, leading our marching Suffrage supporters.

We will also give an opportunity for citizens to register to vote or make changes to their registration.

The Museum gift shop has Suffrage related items including t-shirts with “Votes for Women” and a centennial button you will find only here.

Three books will be available at the Museum:

How We Won the Vote in California by Selina Solomons, a true story of the Campaign of 1911.

Mr. President, How Long Must We Wait? by Tina Cassidy. The story of Alice Paul, Woodrow Wilson, and the Fight for the Right to Vote.

The Secret History of Wonder Woman, by Jill Lepore. A riveting work of historical detection revealing that the story of Wonder Woman, one of the world’s most iconic superheroes, and hiding within it a fascinating family narrative and a crucial history of twentieth-century feminism.

Events of the next few months should be of interest to students and scholars young and old.

The SUFFRAGE HEADQUARTERS Grand Opening is postponed until further notice.

The 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, granting American women the right to vote (women’s suffrage), was ratified on August 18, 1920, ending almost a century of protest.

Were any of your ancestors or family members involved—female or male?

In 2020,there will be a county-wide celebration of the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment with such plans as museum exhibits and signs at grave sites of a suffragist to honor her/his efforts.

If, for example, you have ever heard that your great grandmother or auntie was politically involved, she was probably a suffragist. If she was a member of a church club, the Native Daughters, Woman’s Relief Corp, Woman’s Christian Temperance Union, the Woman’s Suffrage Association, etc., she was probably a suffragist.

We don’t want to leave a single person off the list! Please send us names and suggestions.

Alice Paul, an 1890’s suffragist, was a fundamental and inspirational warrior in the Women’s Right to Vote campaign in the later years of the movement. After many valiant years of her predecessors, the likes of Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Caddy Stanton, Paul brought the new modern women into the fight. As the years progressed from 1848 to the edifice of the passing of the amendment, Alice Paul kept track of each state as the 19th Amendment was ratified by placing stars on a hand-sewn banner.

The Western Sonoma County Historical Society presents an Old-Fashioned Sewing Bee at the Luther Burbank Cottage where we will be reproducing the flag sewn by suffrage women. This flag will be used in the 2020 Apple Blossom Parade and hung in the West County Museum during the Suffrage Exhibit in 2020. Fabric is provided but do bring your thimble, needles and scissors. Drop in between 10 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. to sew or observe and learn a bit more about this, at 7777 Bodega Ave. Sebastopol. Parking is free but very limited.